New Welwyn Garden City bus station to open

Published: 16 May 2018

The new Welwyn Garden City bus station will open on 20 May, following six months of improvement works.

A new custom designed bus enclosure will house all seven bus stops. The new station will provide covered waiting areas with seating for nearly 70 people, new lighting and electronic departure screens. An improved bus layout will ensure easier safer access for both pedestrians and bus drivers. Buses will enter the new stops ‘nose-in’ so there will no longer be any need to walk in front of one bus to get to another, making the experience of catching the bus safer and less stressful.

A feature of the new bus station will be a reproduction of the Welwyn Garden City Masterplan map designed by architect Louis DeSoissons in 1920. This map beautifully represents the ideals of the Garden City Movement and is sure to be of interest to visitors to the bus station. Elements of the design have been incorporated onto the glass areas, highlighting the link between the original design for Welwyn Garden City, the modern town and its 21st Century bus station.

The area surrounding the bus station has also been renovated with new block paving and kerbing, new street lighting as well as street furniture and landscaping.

Ralph Sangster, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to make this £1m investment in Welwyn Garden City, much of it funded by developer contributions, and improve public transport in the town. I’m sure passengers and passers-by will notice a real difference, not just to the look and feel of the bus station, but also to how it operates.

“I’d like to thank bus users for bearing with us while these works have been taking place. It’s disappointing that the harsh winter delayed the project by several weeks, but I hope people will think it was worth it when they see the new bus station in operation.”

There will be a formal opening ceremony at the bus station on Monday 21 May.